The MLB All-Star Game MVP award celebrates the moments that define each summer classic. Since 2000, elite hitters and pitchers have earned the honor by making game-changing plays.
These performances turn an exhibition into a lasting memory. Names like Mike Trout, Derek Jeter, and Kyle Schwarber stand out because their efforts directly decided the outcome and defined the event.
This article breaks down every MVP winner in that span. It highlights unforgettable performances and explains rare moments that make the award meaningful.
Complete List of MLB All-Star Game MVPs (2000–2025)
From 2000 through 2025, the MLB All-Star Game MVP award recognized clutch hits, home runs, and standout pitching at the Midsummer Classic. The span includes Hall of Fame stars, first-time winners, and one season with no award.
Year-by-Year MVP Winners
The table below lists every MLB All-Star Game MVP from 2000 to 2025. It includes the tie game in 2002 when no MVP was named.
| Year | MVP |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Derek Jeter |
| 2001 | Cal Ripken Jr. |
| 2002 | No award (tie) |
| 2003 | Garrett Anderson |
| 2004 | Alfonso Soriano |
| 2005 | Miguel Tejada |
| 2006 | Michael Young |
| 2007 | Ichiro Suzuki |
| 2008 | J.D. Drew |
| 2009 | Carl Crawford |
| 2010 | Brian McCann |
| 2011 | Prince Fielder |
| 2012 | Melky Cabrera |
| 2013 | Mariano Rivera |
| 2014 | Mike Trout |
| 2015 | Mike Trout |
| 2016 | Eric Hosmer |
| 2017 | Robinson Cano |
| 2018 | Alex Bregman |
| 2019 | Shane Bieber |
| 2020 | Game not held |
| 2021 | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. |
| 2022 | Giancarlo Stanton |
| 2023 | Elias Díaz |
| 2024 | Jarren Duran |
| 2025 | Kyle Schwarber |
Notable Repeat Winners
Only Mike Trout won the award more than once during this period. He claimed MVP honors in 2014 and 2015 with extra-base hits and key RBIs for the American League.
Several players earned MVPs during landmark moments. Cal Ripken Jr. won in 2001 during his final season. Derek Jeter captured the award in 2000 and later became the only player to win All-Star and World Series MVP in the same year.
Pitchers also made their mark. Mariano Rivera won in 2013 during his farewell tour. Shane Bieber dominated hitters in 2019.
Teams Represented by MVPs
A wide mix of teams produced MVPs from 2000 to 2025. The Yankees, Angels, Red Sox, and Rangers each had multiple winners.
The Angels gained the most visibility through Mike Trout and Garrett Anderson. The Yankees saw MVPs from Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Giancarlo Stanton.
Newer franchises also broke through, including the Rockies with Elias Díaz in 2023. National League winners became more common late in the span.
Jarren Duran and Kyle Schwarber continued that trend.
Most Memorable MLB All-Star Game MVP Performances
Several All-Star Game MVP moments since 2000 stand out for clear reasons. They connect strong play with important points in MLB All-Star Game history.
Cal Ripken Jr.’s Farewell in 2001
Cal Ripken Jr. delivered one of the most meaningful All-Star Game MVP performances in 2001. The game took place in Seattle during his final season.
Ripken hit a home run in his first at-bat and added a double later in the game. He finished with two hits and two RBIs.
Those plays helped the American League win 4–1. MLB named Ripken the All-Star Game MVP for his performance and his legacy.
He also received a memorable send-off when Alex Rodriguez moved from shortstop to third base to let Ripken start at his longtime position. That gesture became a lasting image in All-Star Game history.
Mike Trout’s Back-to-Back Wins
Mike Trout earned the All-Star Game MVP award in both 2014 and 2015. No other player has won the award in consecutive years.
In 2014, Trout went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. He helped the American League secure a 5–3 win.
One year later, he drove in two runs with a key double in a 6–3 victory. Trout’s ability to deliver in high-pressure games set him apart.
Kyle Schwarber’s Swing-Off Heroics (2025)
Kyle Schwarber won the 2025 All-Star Game MVP after a format never used before. The game ended tied after nine innings, leading to the first All-Star Game swing-off.
Each team selected three hitters with three swings each. Schwarber stepped in with the National League trailing.
He hit three home runs on three swings. That effort flipped the score and sealed the win.
Schwarber finished without a hit in regular play, but the swing-off defined the night. MLB awarded him the All-Star Game MVP for deciding the outcome under new rules.
Ichiro Suzuki’s Inside-the-Park Home Run (2007)
Ichiro Suzuki delivered a unique All-Star Game MVP performance in 2007. Playing in San Francisco, he went 3-for-3 at the plate for the American League.
His biggest moment came on an inside-the-park home run. No other player has hit one in an MLB All-Star Game.
The ball took a sharp bounce past the outfielders, and Ichiro’s speed did the rest. He also scored twice and drove in two runs in a 5–4 win.
MLB named him the All-Star Game MVP for his all-around impact.
Recent Standout MVPs and Their Impact
Several recent winners shaped the MLB All-Star Game with game-changing plays. Each performance showed how one moment can decide the result and define a player’s place in All-Star history.
Giancarlo Stanton’s California Homecoming (2022)
Giancarlo Stanton delivered the key swing of the night in the 2022 MLB All-Star Game. He crushed a long home run that tied the score and shifted momentum to the American League.
The game took place in Los Angeles, close to where Stanton grew up. That setting added weight to his performance and drew a strong crowd reaction.
Key impact points:
- Tied the game with one swing
- Helped extend the AL’s win streak
- Earned MVP honors with limited at-bats
The American League went on to win, and Stanton claimed the Ted Williams Award.
Jarren Duran’s Breakout Moment (2024)
Jarren Duran used the 2024 All-Star Game to announce himself on a national stage. He broke a 3–3 tie with a two-run home run that changed the game in the fifth inning.
The hit gave the American League a lead it never lost. Duran also showed speed and range in the outfield.
| Stat line highlight | Result |
|---|---|
| Go-ahead home run | 2 RBI |
| Defensive play | Key outfield coverage |
Duran became one of the newest names on the MLB All-Star Game MVP winners list.
Elias Diaz Powers NL Victory (2023)
Elias Diaz delivered a rare National League win in the 2023 MLB All-Star Game. He hit a two-run home run that gave the NL the lead and held up as the winning margin.
The homer stood out because the NL had not won the game in over a decade. Diaz entered as a reserve and made the most of his chance.
Why it mattered:
- Ended a long NL losing streak
- Provided all key runs for the NL
- Earned MVP with one decisive at-bat
Diaz joined a select group of players listed among All-Star Game MVPs by year.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s MVP Performance (2021)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. dominated the 2021 MLB All-Star Game with power and control. He launched a home run measured at 462 feet, the longest in All-Star Game tracking history.
He also added a double, finishing with multiple extra-base hits. Guerrero earned MVP honors and secured his place among MLB All-Star Game MVP winners.
Statistical Trends and MVP Award Patterns
Recent MLB All-Star Game MVP results show clear trends by position, league, and repeat winners. Hitters dominate the award, the American League holds a slight edge, and only one player has won more than once since 2000.
Positions Most Likely to Win MVP
Position players win the MLB All-Star Game MVP far more often than pitchers. Outfielders lead the list, driven by home runs and extra-base hits that stand out in short games.
MVPs by position since 2000 (selected):
| Position | Notable Winners |
|---|---|
| Outfield | Ichiro Suzuki, Mike Trout (2), Giancarlo Stanton, Jarren Duran |
| Shortstop | Derek Jeter, Cal Ripken Jr., Miguel Tejada |
| First Base | Prince Fielder, Eric Hosmer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. |
| Pitcher | Mariano Rivera, Shane Bieber |
| Catcher | Brian McCann, Elias Díaz |
Relief pitchers rarely win. Mariano Rivera remains the only reliever to earn the honor, which shows how hard it is for pitchers to stand out in one inning.
American League vs. National League MVPs
The American League has won slightly more MVPs since 2000. Early winners often came from AL teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rangers.
The National League closed the gap in the 2010s and 2020s. Players like Eric Hosmer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Kyle Schwarber helped shift the balance.
The swing-off format in 2025 also favored power hitters, which helped the NL. League results often reflect roster depth and game context more than long-term dominance.
A full list by year appears on the MLB All-Star Game MVP winners page.
Multi-Time All-Star Game MVPs
Only one player won the award more than once from 2000 to 2025. Mike Trout earned MVP honors in 2014 and 2015 with consistent power and run production.
Other stars reached the stage but did not repeat. This group includes Derek Jeter, Ichiro Suzuki, and Giancarlo Stanton.
The single-game format limits repeat chances and adds randomness. The award itself dates to 1962 and highlights standout moments.
Background on the award name and changes appears in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game Most Valuable Player history.
Unique and Historical All-Star Game MVP Moments
Several All-Star Game MVP awards since 2000 stand out because they changed expectations or reflected larger shifts in MLB All-Star Game history. These moments include a rare relief pitcher win, a brand-new game format, and an era when the game affected the World Series.
Mariano Rivera’s Unprecedented Relief Win (2013)
Mariano Rivera earned the 2013 All-Star Game MVP with a single, perfect inning. He retired all three batters he faced and allowed no hits or runs.
Voters rewarded efficiency, not length. Rivera became the first relief pitcher to win the award.
That fact alone made the moment historic within MLB All-Star Game history. The game also served as a tribute.
Players from both teams stayed on the field to honor Rivera during his final season. The award recognized his performance and his long career with the Yankees.
Key detail: Rivera threw only 16 pitches, yet his impact outweighed starters and position players.
The 2025 Swing-Off: A New Chapter
The 2025 All-Star Game ended tied after nine innings and moved to the first-ever Swing-Off. Each league sent three hitters, with three swings each, to decide the winner.
Kyle Schwarber delivered the defining moment. He hit three home runs on three swings to secure the National League win.
Voters named him MVP for that performance. The format change added urgency and clarity.
Fans saw a clean ending instead of a tie. Coverage of the 2025 All-Star Game MVP Kyle Schwarber highlights how the new rule reshaped the outcome.
Result: NL won the Swing-Off 4–3.
Home Field Advantage and MVPs (2003–2016)
From 2003 through 2016, the All-Star Game decided home field advantage in the World Series. That rule raised the stakes for players and managers.
MVP winners during this period often played full-speed. Players like Mike Trout and Prince Fielder delivered key hits that directly affected October baseball.
The rule also shaped strategy. Managers used top pitchers earlier, and position players stayed in longer.
Lists of All-Star Game MVPs since 2000 show how many winners came from tightly contested games.
Important note: MLB ended this rule after 2016 to reduce pressure on an exhibition game.
Legacy and Influence of the MLB All-Star Game MVP Award
The MLB All-Star Game MVP award shapes how fans remember standout moments from the Midsummer Classic. It connects elite play, media coverage, and baseball tradition into one clear honor.
Significance of the Ted Williams Trophy
The MLB All-Star Game MVP receives the Ted Williams Award, a name that adds weight to the honor. MLB renamed the trophy in 2002 to recognize Williams’ impact on hitting and the sport’s history, as explained in MLB’s overview of the All-Star MVP award history.
Winning this trophy often marks a defining career moment. For veterans, it can confirm long-term excellence.
For younger players, it can signal a national breakout. The award also ties modern stars to past legends.
That link matters in a game built on records and comparisons. Fans often remember MVP winners long after the final score fades.
Fan and Media Involvement in MVP Selection
Media members play a major role in choosing the MLB All-Star Game MVP. Writers and broadcasters from major outlets vote shortly after the game ends.
Their choices reflect game impact, not season totals. Coverage from networks like ESPN shapes how fans view MVP performances.
Highlights, interviews, and replays push key moments into the spotlight, as shown in ESPN’s All-Star Game MVP history. Fan reaction also matters.
Strong fan response can amplify a player’s MVP moment through social media and postgame talk. While fans do not vote, their attention helps define the award’s lasting impact.
Key factors media voters weigh include:
- Game-changing hits or pitching
- Performance in high-pressure moments
- Clear influence on the final result
### The Midsummer Classic’s Role in Baseball Culture
The Midsummer Classic stands apart from regular season games. It brings together top players from both leagues in a single showcase.
The MLB All-Star Game MVP often becomes the face of that event. This award captures a snapshot of baseball in a given year.
Past winners reflect changes in style, strategy, and star power. The MLB All-Star Game MVP overview lists these players.
Players chase recognition even in exhibition play. That chase gives fans a reason to watch closely every July.
